English-born duke’s rabies death a Canadian first
If I told you Charles Lennox was born in a barn and died in a barn, you might not think he could have been anyone special.
But the Forth Duke of Richmond and Lennox, born in September 1764, would become the man in charge of British North America one day.
Lennox started with the Sussex militia as a boy. At the age of 23, he was a captain in the same regiment John Graves Simcoe belonged to early in the American Revolution, the 35th Foot. Lennox later transferred to the Coldstream Foot Guards.
This was a problem for the commander of the unit – the Duke of York, the second son of the King. York made disparaging comments about the Lennox family courage so Lennox challenged him to a duel. Lennox fired a shot through a curl on the Duke’s head. York fired into the air and said he bore no ill will to Lennox or his family. With honour restored, Lennox left the Coldstream Guards and returned to the 35th Foot. At the age of 50 he became general of the regiment.
When his uncle, the Duke of Richmond, died he took over as the new duke.
In 1818 Lennox became Governor-in-Chief of British North America.
In July of that year he landed in Quebec City with his family, including Sir Peregrine Maitland, his son-in-law, who was newly appointed Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.
Lennox’s brief included beefing up the defences of the Crown, improving inland navigation and encouraging retired soldiers to settle in the colony.
Lennox reviewed the installations around the country and recommended improvements, including in Upper Canada, at Kingston as the key.
He also said canals were needed to open navigation on the Ottawa River, Rideau River, and between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario to go around Niagara Falls. Building all these canals began under his administration.
Lennox generated admiration among the elite and military of the colony through a series of social and athletic events that became the norm of his time in office. He was an excellent athlete and appeared to be a man’s man.
Less than a year into his administration he embarked on a tour of the country.
He hadn’t even got out of Quebec before being bitten by a fox. The injury seemed to heal, so he continued travelling into Upper Canada, visiting York and Niagara-on-theLake, ranging up into the north, and checking out Drummond Island in Lake Huron before heading back to Kingston.
That return was supposed to be a relaxing paddle on the Rideau River, but Lennox started displaying symptoms of rabies.
On Aug. 28, his party was forced to stop travel and seek shelter in a barn, where Lennox died an agonizing death.
The community where he died is named Richmond in his honour. The dead duke’s body was carried back to Quebec and buried at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.
It’s believed his is the first chronicled case of rabies death in Canada.
— Tom Villemaire is a writer based in Toronto and the Bruce Peninsula. Tom@historylab.ca